Happy Monday everyone. What a week this has been. Paideia is officially in full force! I'm becoming a pro at deciding whether or not a source is credible enough to use in a research paper! For those of you who don't know, Spring semester for Luther first-years is all about the Paideia research paper. Each class section has a different theme, chosen by the professor, and each student chooses a different topic to research and write about. So for the next month, the library will be full of Paideia students frantically cramming knowledge into their brains so they can spit it out on their computer when it's time to write their paper.
Lucky for me, I chose to watch a movie and analyze whether or not it accurately portrays women in the 1920's in China. So that means I get to watch a movie! Right? Wrong. That means I'll get to watch the movie about 12 times in order to spot the tiniest details about female life. But in all honesty, this movie is pretty good. It's called "Raise the Red Lantern" and I strongly recommend it, because it is a great movie.
Other than that, it looks like winter again! It snowed this weekend, which was AWESOME news for my Outdoor Winter Activities class, because now we can actually go snowshoeing! We hit the trails today, and let me tell you, this is one of the most fun things I've done! It's great! I think everyone should try it at least once!!!
That's all for now, seeing as I've got a large monograph (look it up!) to read about the roles of women in historical China before dinner tonight.
Always,
Allison
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Second Semester
I have discovered that I haven't really shared much about my second semester classes, so I thought I would disclose a bit of information about my classes now.
First off is Paideia, of course. Last semester was all reading, but this semester is different because the main focus is a research paper that is specific to each Paideia section. For example, my class is doing research related to China, since this is the topic my professor chose. Our paper has to be 8-10 pages long, and must include many primary and secondary sources. It will be a lot of work, but I plan on choosing a topic that is at least semi-interesting to me so I don't loathe it.
Then there's Philosophy. This class is AWESOME!!!! We talk about things that make my head spin, like how do we know whether something is pious because it is loved or that it's loved because it's pious? Crazy, I know, but it's one of my favorite classes! The professor is kind of a spark plug, which makes it that much better.
Spanish this semester is focused on writing different types of compositions. Currently we are working on descriptions and have to write a letter of recommendation where we describe in "lenguaje vivo," or vivid language, the traits of the person. I'm looking forward to getting into it more and getting to write some really interesting things.
Finally is my skills class, which is Outdoor Winter Activities (OWA) which is taught by the volleyball coach. Basically, we go on hikes and go snowshoeing. Or we will if we get any more snow. This class is a great way to get outside and to explore Decorah in a really fun way!
Oh, I almost forgot about Honors, which I mentioned a bit in my last post. We're focused on culture and the media, and I really think I will enjoy that class. As I stated in my previous post, my blog with my studies is http://cultureandthemedia.blogspot.com if you are interested in learning more.
Here's to another Sunday doing homework! I love college!! Until next time, I'm
Always,
Allison
First off is Paideia, of course. Last semester was all reading, but this semester is different because the main focus is a research paper that is specific to each Paideia section. For example, my class is doing research related to China, since this is the topic my professor chose. Our paper has to be 8-10 pages long, and must include many primary and secondary sources. It will be a lot of work, but I plan on choosing a topic that is at least semi-interesting to me so I don't loathe it.
Then there's Philosophy. This class is AWESOME!!!! We talk about things that make my head spin, like how do we know whether something is pious because it is loved or that it's loved because it's pious? Crazy, I know, but it's one of my favorite classes! The professor is kind of a spark plug, which makes it that much better.
Spanish this semester is focused on writing different types of compositions. Currently we are working on descriptions and have to write a letter of recommendation where we describe in "lenguaje vivo," or vivid language, the traits of the person. I'm looking forward to getting into it more and getting to write some really interesting things.
Finally is my skills class, which is Outdoor Winter Activities (OWA) which is taught by the volleyball coach. Basically, we go on hikes and go snowshoeing. Or we will if we get any more snow. This class is a great way to get outside and to explore Decorah in a really fun way!
Oh, I almost forgot about Honors, which I mentioned a bit in my last post. We're focused on culture and the media, and I really think I will enjoy that class. As I stated in my previous post, my blog with my studies is http://cultureandthemedia.blogspot.com if you are interested in learning more.
Here's to another Sunday doing homework! I love college!! Until next time, I'm
Always,
Allison
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Homework and the Internet
Usually when college students think of homework and the internet, they think Facebook and the problems they face when they are trying to do work, but are compelled by the force of Facebook to not do their work and instead search bumper stickers and look at pictures for the hour they had intended to use for writing their Paideia paper. But Facebook isn't the only 'evil' on the internet. However, there is a lot of good that can come out of the internet as far as schoolwork.
Besides your typical research that is done for papers, one of my professors has found a unique way of incorporating the internet into class. The topic of our course is 'Culture and the Media' and our assignment, once a week, is to write a blog about a certain topic that is determined the week before. In this way, we are reflecting on certain aspects of the media in a way that has become more mainstream in our culture: blogging.
In case you are interested in reading my homework assignments, my new blog website is http://cultureandthemedia.blogspot.com/ I would encourage you to browse through it from time to time if you are interested in what type of writing college students do in a typical class.
Always,
Allison
Besides your typical research that is done for papers, one of my professors has found a unique way of incorporating the internet into class. The topic of our course is 'Culture and the Media' and our assignment, once a week, is to write a blog about a certain topic that is determined the week before. In this way, we are reflecting on certain aspects of the media in a way that has become more mainstream in our culture: blogging.
In case you are interested in reading my homework assignments, my new blog website is http://cultureandthemedia.blogspot.com/ I would encourage you to browse through it from time to time if you are interested in what type of writing college students do in a typical class.
Always,
Allison
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Flexibility
Flexibility: adjustable, compliance, limber, pliancy, malleable.
It's time for another one of my tips and tricks for college students. Today's lesson is all about being flexible, in both the physical and mental sense.
Physical:
I'm taking a skills class called Outdoor Winter Activities, and one of the things we've talked about already is the importance of stretching. Stretching leads to flexibility and decreases your chance of injury, especially if you're a klutz like yours truly. So stretch. Be flexible. Work your muscles in different ways, like snowshoeing (which we're doing for class, by the way, and is really exciting)
Mental:
It is very important to keep an open mind, especially as a college freshman. For example, I came into school thinking I wanted to do something in the medical research field. But I kept an open mind, because I wasn't positive that that was the route for me. And a great new opportunity has literally fallen into my lap in the form of English. But even after deciding to major in English, I have continued to keep my mind open, and yet another opportunity has flown its colorful flag. After an extremely interesting Paideia lecture yesterday, I am now seriously considering a second major in Africana Studies. But the cool thing is that four of the classes for this major are also history courses. And you only need five history courses to minor, so by taking one extra history course of my choosing, I could have a minor! So by keeping an open mind and not closing myself off with the notion that I was going to be a biology major no matter what, I have discovered new passions of mine that have been previously under-developed.
So there's another life lesson from a college freshman. I hope you can apply it to yourself, no matter what walk of life you are living. Until next time, I'm
Always,
Allison
It's time for another one of my tips and tricks for college students. Today's lesson is all about being flexible, in both the physical and mental sense.
Physical:
I'm taking a skills class called Outdoor Winter Activities, and one of the things we've talked about already is the importance of stretching. Stretching leads to flexibility and decreases your chance of injury, especially if you're a klutz like yours truly. So stretch. Be flexible. Work your muscles in different ways, like snowshoeing (which we're doing for class, by the way, and is really exciting)
Mental:
It is very important to keep an open mind, especially as a college freshman. For example, I came into school thinking I wanted to do something in the medical research field. But I kept an open mind, because I wasn't positive that that was the route for me. And a great new opportunity has literally fallen into my lap in the form of English. But even after deciding to major in English, I have continued to keep my mind open, and yet another opportunity has flown its colorful flag. After an extremely interesting Paideia lecture yesterday, I am now seriously considering a second major in Africana Studies. But the cool thing is that four of the classes for this major are also history courses. And you only need five history courses to minor, so by taking one extra history course of my choosing, I could have a minor! So by keeping an open mind and not closing myself off with the notion that I was going to be a biology major no matter what, I have discovered new passions of mine that have been previously under-developed.
So there's another life lesson from a college freshman. I hope you can apply it to yourself, no matter what walk of life you are living. Until next time, I'm
Always,
Allison
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